Significance of India visit of US Secretary of State increases

New Delhi – Using Pakistan and the Taliban, China is making moves to establish dominance in Afghanistan. A Chinese mouthpiece claimed that it is not in the Chinese interest to view the Taliban as an enemy. During a discussion with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed that China and Pakistan should make joint efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan. However, the collective efforts of China and Pakistan may be limited to looting Afghanistan’s mineral resources and challenging India by strategically using the country’s land. Therefore, there is a thick possibility that the security interests of India along with the United States will be jeopardised in the process. In such a scenario, the significance of US Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to India has increased.

It is rumoured that the issue of human rights in India will be raised during the visit of the US Secretary of State. But as soon as the US raises the issue, the possible answer from India is also being discussed in the media. However, analysts concur that the situation in Afghanistan will be the most crucial issue during Secretary of State Blinken’s visit. Violence by the Taliban in Afghanistan has escalated since the US military withdrawal.

Reports of atrocities against the people of Afghanistan in the territories occupied by the Taliban are circulating in the international media. In such a scenario, the US is being criticised for leaving Afghanistan on the verge. Former US President George W. Bush and other military officials have warned that the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan be regretted. This has increased the pressure on the Biden administration to stop the Taliban in Afghanistan.

To that end, the Biden administration is working on a plan to gain control over Afghanistan with the help of Afghanistan’s neighbours. India is said to have an important place in this. However, a clear outline has not yet emerged. Detailed discussions on Afghanistan are expected during Secretary of State Blinken’s visit. The success of the Taliban in Afghanistan depends on the support of Pakistan. The issue of the Taliban’s safe havens in Pakistan is said to be at the forefront of discussions between Foreign Minister Jaishankar and Secretary of State Blinken. At the same time, Chinese efforts to increase its influence in Afghanistan are likely to be taken seriously by both India and the United States.